What Great Things He Hath Done

Q: What does the Bible say about total depravity?

The Bible teaches that all humans are completely sinful and unable to reconcile themselves with God due to their total depravity. Total depravity is a key doctrine in Reformed theology that asserts that every aspect of humanity is influenced by sin. This means that without divine intervention, no one can truly seek God or do good. Romans 3:10 states, 'There is none righteous, no, not one,' affirming that apart from Christ, humanity remains 'dead in trespasses and sins' (Ephesians 2:1). Sin has corrupted our nature to the point where our thoughts, desires, and actions are all tainted, demonstrating our utter dependence on God's grace for salvation.

Q: How do we know Christ's righteousness justifies us?

Christ's righteousness justifies us as it is credited to believers through faith, fulfilling God's demand for perfect righteousness. In Reformed theology, justification is the act by which God declares a sinner to be righteous based on faith in Christ. This doctrine emphasizes that our righteousness before God does not come from our works but solely from Christ's perfect obedience and sacrifice. Romans 4:3 states, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Similarly, 2 Corinthians 5:21 affirms that God made Christ 'who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.' Therefore, our justification hinges on the atoning work of Christ, not our merit.

Q: Why is the sovereignty of God important for Christians?

The sovereignty of God is crucial as it assures Christians that God is in control of all things and works for the good of His people. The sovereignty of God is a foundational doctrine in Reformed theology, emphasizing God's absolute authority and control over creation. It provides comfort and assurance to believers that nothing happens outside of God's perfect will. In Romans 8:28, it is promised that 'all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.' This doctrine helps Christians understand that even trials and difficulties are orchestrated by God for their ultimate benefit and His glory. Furthermore, it encourages believers to trust in God's plan, knowing that He is actively working to redeem His people and uphold His promises.

Q: What is the significance of hearing the Gospel?

Hearing the Gospel is essential as faith comes through hearing, enabling individuals to recognize their need for Christ. Hearing the Gospel is a fundamental aspect of salvation in Reformed theology because it is through the proclamation of God's Word that sinners are awakened to their need for a Savior. Romans 10:17 states, 'So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' This verse highlights that the Holy Spirit uses the preached Word to create faith in the hearts of individuals. When people hear about Christ's great works and His ability to save, they are compelled to seek Him for mercy. The effectiveness of the Gospel message is not based on the individual's worthiness but on God's promise to gather His elect through the preaching of the Word.

Q: How does God gather His people?

God gathers His people through the preaching of the Gospel, calling them from all nations to hear and respond to His Word. In Reformed theology, the gathering of God's people is an essential aspect of His sovereign grace. The sermon illustrates that God calls and gathers His elect from various places, just as seen in Mark 3:8 where people came from Galilee, Judea, and beyond to hear Christ. This demonstrates that the Gospel transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, reaching all who are chosen by God. Psalm 107:2-3 affirms this gathering: 'Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.' It shows that God orchestrates circumstances to lead His chosen ones to hear and respond to the Gospel, ensuring that His plan of salvation is accomplished.

When you consider who the creator is of humanity, God created Adam, really it's sad what they haven't done. It's really sad. Can you imagine if Adam had not fallen what would have been accomplished long ago? Nothing man has ever done has reconciled one sinner to God. All the advancements that I just mentioned, none of them have reconciled one sinner to God. Man's works are ultimately for himself, driven by the desires of the flesh and of his wicked mind. Though he has made much progress in many areas in this life, he still remains as far away from God as ever. Man's not any closer to God. Man's not any less depraved today than a thousand years ago, two thousand years ago. Man's not less depraved. He's the same. He's dead in trespasses and sins, and he is totally depraved.

None good? No, not one. That still stands, doesn't it? That still stands. I could stand in the most elite college, find one of the best Ivy League colleges, And I could stand there and look at everyone in the auditorium and say, there's none good. No, not one. I could stand before a whole room of the best doctors in the world. And I could say, there's none good in this room. No, not one. Isn't that so? That's the truth.

But I thank God THERE IS ONE WHO HAS DONE GREAT THINGS CONCERNING OUR SOULS. The Gospel is not a declaration of what man must do for God, but of what Christ has already done for sinners, what He's done for sinners, given to Him by the Father before the world began.

Mark verses 7 through 8 now we know they the backdrop to this we looked at it last week our Lord Healed a man with a withered hand on a Sabbath day, and they made the Pharisees so mad They thought how they might destroy him. They got with the Herodians and they Said now how are we going to destroy this man? We have got to get rid of him for healing a man on a Sabbath day It says, BUT JESUS WITHDREW HIMSELF WITH HIS DISCIPLES TO THE SEA. And a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan. And they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came to him. Our Lord was not welcomed, and their synagogues. The Pharisees continually watched Him, seeking grounds to accuse Him.

I wrote an article in a bulletin this week on listening without a critical ear, listening to be fed, listening to grow. When you start to listen with a critical ear to somebody, you won't hear anything but bad things. You'll just pick the daylights out of them. WE OUGHT TO COME EXPECTING THE LORD TO SPEAK HERE. NOW IN OTHER PLACES I DON'T EXPECT HIM. THEY DON'T PREACH THE GOSPEL. BUT WHERE HE'S PREACHED, WE SHOULD LISTEN. WE SHOULD LISTEN. LORD SPEAK. LORD SPEAK.

BUT OUR LORD'S WORK WAS NOT HINDERED BY THEIR OPPOSITION. WHO CAN SAY UNTO HIM, WHAT DOEST THOU? WHO CAN STOP HIS HAND? Nobody can stop His hand. He is the Sovereign. Jesus Christ is the Sovereign. Nobody is going to stop Him. What He does, He simply continued His Father's business elsewhere. He just moved on, went over to the seaside. The Lord is not confined, He is not hindered by man, and He is not confined to a building. Wherever there are needy sinners, there Christ is pleased to meet and reveal Himself. I hope He's pleased to be here tonight by His Spirit. I hope He's pleased to be here.

But I want you to notice in verse 8, God gathers His people. They hear the gospel, they hear good news, they hear the message. and they come. But notice where the multitude came from. Galilee in the north, Judea and Jerusalem in the south, Adamia in the east, Tyre and Sidon in the west. This reminds me of Psalm 107 verse 2 and 3. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Let them say so. whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered them out of the land from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south." God has a people. He has a people in the north, in the south, in the east, and in the west. Our God is a God of means and He gathers His people through the preaching of the gospel from all over this world.

THAT'S WHY THIS WORLD IS STILL STANDING! IT'S STILL STANDING BECAUSE GOD HAS A PEOPLE THAT HE'S GONNA SAVE! AND WHEN HE SAVES THE LAST ONE, HE'S GONNA WRAP THIS UP! HE'S GONNA DECLARE TIME, I READ THIS IN REVELATION TODAY I BELIEVE IT WAS, HE'S GONNA DECLARE TIME SHALL BE NO MORE! HE'S GONNA WRAP IT UP!

When He saves that last one, that last one may be called from the north, the south, the east, or the west, we don't know, it might be here. It might be in this congregation, the Lord may bring one in, He may cause them, for whatever reason, He may cause them to come here and hear the gospel. You know, our God, Providence, listen, Providence works for the good of all of God's sheep, even before they know Him. Even before they know Him, providence works for their good. Somebody might lose a job and think, man, this is awful, I've lost a job, and they've had to move somewhere, and they hear the gospel. Oh, I tell you, God providentially, He moves and He orchestrates absolutely everything for the good of His church in this world, even those who don't know Him yet. HE'S A GOD OF MEANS, HE'S GONNA CROSS THEIR PATH, AND HE'S GONNA PRAY THEM TO HEAR THE GOSPEL.

WHAT BROUGHT THEM HERE? WHAT BROUGHT THEM TO CHRIST? WHEN THEY HAD HEARD. THE ONES WHO CAME HERE HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET. BUT THE ONES WHO HAD SEEN IT, SPREAD THE MESSAGE. WHEN THEY HAD HEARD WHAT GREAT THINGS, GREAT THINGS, THINGS UNIMAGINABLE! UNIMAGINABLE! NOBODY IN HISTORY HAD DONE WHAT HE DID! WHAT GREAT THINGS HE DID! WHEN THEY HEARD THAT THEY CAME TO HIM! OH YOU WON'T COME TO CHRIST UNTIL YOU REALLY HEAR OF WHAT GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE! YOU WON'T DO IT! BUT HERE, LISTEN, THEY HEARD!

Romans 10 17 so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God when God is pleased to save a sinner I can assure you they are going to hear the Word of God preached they're going to hear the gospel preached God's gonna send him a preacher he's gonna send him a preacher now the gospel declares the great and mighty things Christ has done One of the great things that He has done, one of the great mysteries is this, great is the mystery of godliness.

God was manifest in the flesh. Great is the mystery, GREAT of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. God walked the streets of Jerusalem over there. That place over the Middle East, God walked those streets. He healed people there in His day by walking in His flesh on this earth. He walked on this earth. He was actually crucified and hung on a cross over there in the Middle East, in Jerusalem. That happened. That happened. They hung the Son of God on the cross.

And then He brought in He brought out and brought in an everlasting righteousness. God demands righteousness. That means nothing to anybody until God wakes them up, until God gives them life. Then righteousness means everything. It means to be right with God. That's what righteousness is, is to be right with God.

And in the righteousness of Christ, we are right with God. then our Lord out of all of humanity how many billions of people you reckon have lived on this earth only one magnified the law and made it honorable just one only one only one person out of all the billions and billions that have lived only one MAGNIFIED GOD'S LAW AND MADE IT HONORABLE!

And He's the only one who did what no one else could do. He did the impossible. What's impossible with man is possible with God. He took this thing of sin this evil that we are by nature this thing called sin and he put it away by the sacrifice of himself we'll never when we leave this this life you see he delivered us from the power of sin from the guilt of sin the condemning power of it the guilt of it but we're not saved yet from the presence of sin But one day he's gonna save us from the presence of sin, and sin will never, ever, ever, ever raise its ugly head again.

It's gone. It's over with. He truly accomplished our redemption. It wasn't an attempt. He didn't attempt to redeem us. He redeemed everybody he died for. He purchased them. We are a, Peter, I believe it's Peter says, you are a peculiar people. Now that word, when he used it, is different than the way we use it. That word means purchased. You are a purchased people. God bought you. He bought you.

The gospel is simply the proclamation of what Jesus Christ has done. Those who heard of Christ and knew their need and they came to Him. Those are the only ones who come to Christ. Those who need Him. Those who need Him. Some came out of curiosity and got nothing. In fact, I believe the largest part of this multitude, all this multitude kept following Him. The vast, vast majority of them cried crucify later on they cried crucify the crowd's fickle don't go with the crowd the crowd is fickle those who heard of the lord jesus christ and knew their need they came to him they heard they came they received and no and were not disappointed they were not disappointed no one whom god has saved has ever been disappointed Not with Christ. I'm disappointed with myself. I've been disappointed with myself many times, but never with the Lord. He's never failed. He's never failed.

The hopeless found hope in Him. These diseases that they had were incurable. All of them were incurable. And when they heard there was one There was one who's able to heal them of all their diseases. They came to him. They came to him. The crowd pressed upon him because they were desperate. No one else could heal them. People who are sick will eagerly seek out a physician who can heal them. If someone you love were dying, And you heard of one who could help.

You'd spare no effort to reach that person. You'd spare no effort. If one of your children was dying, and most of your children are grown, well, even though they're grown, they're still our children, aren't they? They're still our children no matter how old they get. But if one of them is dying and you knew of one that could help them, could save them, give them some medicine that no one else knows about, You would put forth every effort to find that person. You would.

The reality is that sinners are dying from something far greater than any disease. You know, we shouldn't be afraid of diseases. You think we're going to get sick without the Lord knowing it or without it being His will? We shouldn't be afraid we shouldn't know you should never live God's children should never live in God's world afraid in fear of this and that We shouldn't do that But I tell you what we should be afraid of Whether the Lord told us to be afraid of him fear him but I tell you what this thing of sin and That needs to be taken care of.

That needs to be taken care of. I could write the obituary if everybody dies. And I wouldn't have to say, well, he died of cancer, so-and-so died of a heart attack. I'd say, no, they died because of sin. That is the only reason we die. All these other things are second causes. They're just second causes.

Only Christ can save us from our sins. Do you want to be saved from your sins? I want to be saved from my sins. That is the only thing that separates me from God is my sins. And there is one And there's only one who can put away my sins. Only one. But He can put them completely away. And I believe He has. I believe He has. I believe the Lord has put away my sins. I have nothing to worry about. Do I? If the Lord has saved you, do you have anything to worry about? Anything? Are not all things of God? I hope before I die, I actually live that one day. At least live it one day. To live knowing that whatever is happening today is of God. It's alright. It's alright. It's for my good and His glory. And it'll pass. It'll pass.

Why did they press upon Him? Because they had heard of others who had been healed. That's what they heard, it says, they heard. And I doubt they thought this, if He helped them, perhaps He'll help me. If He saved one sinner, maybe He'll save this sinner too. That's often how God awakens hope in a sinner's heart. When we hear of his mercy toward other, we begin to hope that there's mercy for us. If he, if he had mercy on, on this one, maybe you'll have mercy on this one.

Micah 7 18 who is a god like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retains not his anger forever because he delighteth in mercy he delighteth in mercy now back in verse 10 here is to listen to this for he had healed many in so much that they pressed upon him for to touch him as many as had plagues that word plagues in there carries the idea of scourges or afflictions from the hand of god you remember how god plagued egypt it has the same meaning every sinner whom god makes them to know their sins And the burden of their sin cannot rest until he or she finds rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm plagued with everything. I'm plagued with bad thoughts. I'm plagued with doubts. I'm plagued with everything. But the Lord can heal me of all those. He can heal me of all those.

Now in verse 11, It said, and unclean spirits, demons, demons, devils, when they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried saying, Thou art the Son of God. Even demons were compelled to acknowledge who He is. They could not resist His authority. they fell down they had to come out when they fell down and acknowledged thou art the son of god i have no doubt he cast them out one day every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess that jesus christ is lord to the glory of god the father willing willingly or unwillingly it's going to happen every knee is going to bow that's Philippians 2 8 through 11. That's what this says.

Our Lord's mission was not only to save his people but also to defeat every enemy of God and his church. Not just to save us but to also defeat all that hate God, all his enemies and all the enemies of the church. OUR LORD CAME TO PUT AWAY SIN, DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL, AND ESTABLISH HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM.

Listen to 1 Corinthians 15 verse 24. Then cometh the end. You know, I think of, there's two things in the Old Testament I think of. Noah's day, he preached 120 years, he's called a preacher of righteousness. And he's preaching, judgment's coming, judgment's coming. And they laughed, I know they laughed, never seen a flood, never experienced anything like that. Noah said, judgment's coming. And then one day, God shut Noah in the ark, and the family and all those animals, and the flood came.

You think there weren't people knocking on that door? I assure you, I assure you they were knocking on that door. But the day of mercy was over. It was over. I meant to put a, well I haven't sent the bullets out yet, have I? I listened to a message Paul sent me, Paul Mahan sent me, Henry preached back in the 70s. It was just outstanding on that day of mercy being shut, that door being shut. And I was going to put that in the bulletin and tell you to listen to it. So if I don't forget, I'm going to put it in there. It's outstanding.

BUT OUR LORD THEN COMETH TO THE END WHEN HE SHALL HAVE DELIVERED UP THE KINGDOM TO GOD, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON, EVEN THE FATHER, WHEN HE SHALL HAVE PUT DOWN ALL RULE AND ALL AUTHORITY AND POWER. THEN COMETH TO THE END WHEN HE HAS DONE ALL THAT HE WAS GIVEN TO DO. THOSE DELIVERED BY CHRIST'S POWER, AS WE SAW EARLIER HERE, THEY FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM AND SAID, THOU ART THE SON OF GOD. AND THOSE WHO WERE DELIVERED BY HIS POWER WERE SET FREE.

SET FREE FROM THE POWER OF SATAN. SATAN HAS SO MANY PEOPLE. IN FACT, HE HAS THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT. THEY ARE UNDER THE POWER OF DARKNESS. THIS WHOLE WORLD, THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT, I BELIEVE IT WAS EPHESIANS 2, THE WHOLE WORLD, IT SAYS IN THE SCRIPTURES, IT LIES IN WICKEDNESS, AND THE WHOLE WORLD IS UNDER THE POWER OF THE PRINCE OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT OF DARKNESS THAT NOW WORKS IN THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE. THEY DON'T KNOW IT! THEY THINK THEY ARE THEIR OWN PERSON! I'M MY OWN MAN! OH NO YOU'RE NOT! NO YOU'RE NOT! That's the last thing you are. If you're not God's, Satan got you.

You're under his power, the power of darkness. Now this illustrates here what I've been talking about. This illustrates God's Savior's Word. God calls His people to hear the Gospel. When I heard the Gospel, I wasn't looking for it. I had everything was all right everything was all right when I heard the gospel and then I realized God made me to know everything's not all right and you're in trouble but he calls his people to hear the gospel when it's time when it's time to be born it's time to be born time to die when it's time to be born of God they'll hear the gospel then they find hope through the message of grace And it draws them to Christ, believing He's able to save them. Like the Lord said to those two blind men who were crying out for Him to give them their sight, and He asked them one question, believe ye that I'm able to do this.

Well, we believe he's able. I believe he's able. I do. Lord, you're able to save. He's able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. And thirdly, they confess him as their all in all. When God truly saves a sinner, that sinner is going to confess Him in water baptism, and they're going to confess Him before the church, and they're going to confess Him before the world.

They're friends, they're not going to hold back. There'll be times they will. There'll be times we hold back. There'll be times we'll shut up when we should have spoke up. But overall, we'll confess Him. ALL WHO HEAR OF HIM COME TO HIM AND TRUST HIM, AND SHALL FIND THAT HE IS INDEED DONE GREAT THINGS FOR THEIR SOULS. THEY HEARD, THEY CAME, THEY RECEIVED, AND THEY WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED." Oh, you will not be, no sinner will be disappointed who comes to Christ for mercy.

Now if you come to Him for a bigger house, you're going to be disappointed. You might as well go someplace else. Well, if you need mercy, if you want to just save you from your sins, you'll not be disappointed. To me, there is absolutely nothing in this life compared to knowing Christ. I would rather, and I believe I can say this honestly, I would rather live in a shack and know Christ than a palace and be lost. Who would you rather be? Lazarus at the rich man's gate or the rich man? Well, if you know the end result, I know what the answer is.

What Great Things He Hath Done

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about total depravity?

How do we know Christ's righteousness justifies us?

Why is the sovereignty of God important for Christians?

What is the significance of hearing the Gospel?

How does God gather His people?

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About John Chapman

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What Great Things He Hath Done

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about total depravity?

How do we know Christ's righteousness justifies us?

Why is the sovereignty of God important for Christians?

What is the significance of hearing the Gospel?

How does God gather His people?

Sermon Transcript

About John Chapman

Comments

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